Photographic-view finder



P. J. AND W O. MARKS.

PHOTOGRAPHIC VIEW FINDER.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 12. 192:.

4 Patented July 25, 1922.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

IN V EN TORS ATTORNEY F. L AND W; 0. MARKS.

PHOTOGRAPHiC VIEW FINDER.

APPLICATION FILED DEC.I2,192I. 1Ag3 @09 Patented July 25, 1922,

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

EN TO I 7 BY w 55 $6 7 WILMWWV satires scares PAUL J. MARKS AN D WALTER O. MARKS, OF ROCHESTER, NEW YORK.

PHOTOGRAPHIC-VIEW FINDER.

To a]? whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, PAUL J. MARKS and \VALTER U. MARKS, citizens of the United States. residing at Rochester, in the county of Monroe and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Photographic-View Finders; and we do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification. 7

()ur invention relates to photographic view finders, of the kind adapted to be conveniently attached to a camera and which are adapted to afford a direct view of the image appearing on the ground glass or film. The principal object of our invention is to provide a finder of this kind which is adjust able for use on cameras using different sizes of plates or films; A further object of our invention is to provide a finder of this kind provided with a plurality of field defining frames having cross bars and central perforations adapted to define the optical centre of the field. Another object of our invention is to provide a finder of this kind in which one of a plurality of field defining frames is adjustable in a plane parallel with the optical axis of the finder. A still further object of our invention is to provide a finder of this kind which may be readily attached to pocket cameras of the types now generally in use and in which the parts may be readily folded upon each other forming a compact packet which may be readily carried in a pocket. To these and other ends our invention resides in certain combinations and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described and particularly pointed out in the claims at the end of this specification.

In the drawings: K

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a camera showing one embodiment of our invention in position thereon,

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the same, somewhat enlarged,

Fig. 3, is a side elevation showing the finder attached to a small camera,

Fig. 4, is a rear elevation of the same.

Fig. 5, is a central longitudinal section of the same, parts being broken away.

Fig. 6, is a plan View, parts being sectioned away to expose the underlying parts.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented July 25, 1922.

Application filed December 12, 1921.

Serial No. 521,638.

Fig. 7, is a longitudinal section on line 7 7 X F 1g. 6, and showing the sighting de- 1 vices in position thereon, and

Fig. 8, is a transverse section on the line 8 8 of Fig. 6.

Our improved finder comprises a base sired, the gauge 3 may be provided with a scale graduated to show the extent to which it must be extended when the finder is attached to cameras of different sizes. In attaching the finder to a camera, the gauge is withdrawn to the proper extent determined by the size of the camera and indicated by the scale. the gauge is now placed in the plane of the outer edge of the camera, the optical center of the finder is in proper position directly over the optical axis of the lens of the camera.

Guided between the lateral flanges of the base member 1- is aslidable member in the form of a substantially rectangular plate 5, having a flange 6 at its forward end and substantially parallel lateral flanges 7 closely adjacent the lateral flanges of the member 1. The plate 5 is normally held in its forward position by means of a coiled spring 8 secured to the plate adjacent its rear end and anchored to the plate l-adjacent its forward end. Pivotally mounted on the rear end of the plate 5 is a clamping member constructed of sheet material and movable from-a position adjacent the wall of the plate to a downwardly projecting position, at substantially right angles thereto. The clamping member 9 has a pair of perforated ears by means of which it is pivotally mounted on the rod or pin 10'fixed in a pair of ears-11 bent up on the rear end of the plate 5. Be-

tween the ears 11 the plate 5 has an upturned flange which serves as a stop to prevent the clamping member 9 from moving past a-position substantially perpendicular to the plane of the plate. The clamping member 9 When the outer end off is adapted to coo erate with a clam ing member 12 pivota y mounted on the ase member 1. The member 12 is constructed of sheet material and has a pair of upturned cars 14 at its ends adapted to fit over the lateralj.flanges of the p ate 1 to which it is pivoted. .Normally when not in use the member 12'lies closely adjacent the bottom wall of the plate 1, but when it is desired to clamp the finder to a camera, it is moved on its pivots until it engages the bottom wall of the plate 1 when it is in an extended posiv clampsthe finder to the frame of the larger lar in al respects to the member 12 but pivplate. A.

oted' to the plate 1 nearer its forward edge and at a greater distance from the cooperatin member 9.

ountedon the plate 5 at its rear end is a sighting member or eyepiece 1 5, constructed of sheet material and having a pair of perforated ears 16 by means of which it is pivotally mounted on the pin 10. When not in use the member 15 occupies a position adjacent to and substantially parallel with the plate 5 but is movable on its pivot to a position substantially perpendicular to said spring 17 coiled about the pivot 10 engages he member 15 and is anchored against the member 5 and serves to resiliently hold the-member 15 in erect position in which it is maintained against the action.

ofits spring by engagement with the flange at the rear end of the plate 5. vThe member 15 may be of any preferred form and 1s provided with a central sighting opening 17 Pivotally mounted on the rear end of the plate 5 is 'a. second sighting member 18 also constructed of sheet material. Adjacent each side of the plate 5 is a pair of upturned ears 19 in which pins or pivots 20 and 21 are mounted. The member 18 is provided with ears rotatably mounted on the pins 20 and 21 and a spring 22 is coiled about the pivot 21 and is anchored against the plate 5 and engages the member 18 to swingit to a position at substantially right angles to the plate 5. The engagement of the member, 18 with the plate 5 serves as a stop to prevent -movement thereof be 0nd a position in which it is substantia ly parallel with the plane of the member 15. The member 18 g has an inwardly extending flange 25 along its upper and side edges which serves to enthe tension of the ten-.

aeaaeoe close the member 15 and other parts mounted on the plate 5 when the member 18 is folded down against the action of its spring 22. A slight projection 26 may be provided on the flange on the rear end of the plate 5, to frictionally engage the flange 25 to hold the device in closed position. i

The material of the member 18 is cut away centrally to form a substantially rectangular opening 27 divided into four substantially equal parts by the intersecting cross bars 28 and 29. At the meeting point of'the bars 28 and 29, a circular portion 30 may be provided for strengthening purposes, having the central sighting opening 31 formed-therein. It will be noted by reference to the various figures of the drawings, that the optical arrangement, the optical axis of the finderlocates the centre of the view appearing on the film or ground glass of the camera and its outlines are clearly defined by the outline of the opening 27. A finder constructed as above" defined is compact to carry in the pocket, and can be quickly attached to the camera. Such a device however, is' adapted for use with cameras of only one size having a lens of fixed focal length determined by the size of the opening 27.

In order to adapt our linden for'use with cameras of different sizes or those using lenses of different angles, asighting member 30 is mounted on the member 5 between the members 15 and 18 and adjustable relatively thereto in a lane parallel to the optical axis of the nder.

that it has no-flange 25 and its central rectangular opening 31? ,is somewhat smaller than the opening 27. The member 30 is provided with a pair of ears 32 by means of which it is pivotally mounted on a pin or rod 33 fixed in the upturned ears 34: of a plate ,35 on which the member is mounted. A spring 36- coiled about the pin 33 is anchored against the plate 35 and engages the member 30 and normally holds the same in a plane parallel with the plane of the member 15. The engagement of a projection 36 on the member 30 with the forward end of the'plate 35 serves as a stop to limit the action of the spring. The plate 35 has downwardly and inwardly turned flanges 37 adapted to cooperate with a downwardly and forwardly inclined slideway 38 on which it is slidably mounted for adjustment to and from the member 18. The inclination of the guideway 38 is such that the plane of adjustment of the member 30 is substantially parallel with the optical axis of the finder which is through the openings 17 and 31 and g I The member 30 is' similar to the member 18 except isc a central opening 40 in the member 30. For use with small cameras or narrow angle lenses the member 30 is located near the member 18 in which position a field is defined smaller than that defined by the member 18. This field may be enlarged as desiredby adjusting the member 30 away from the member 18 until the field of view through the opening 27 is defined within the view seen through the'opening 30. V

In order to facilitate the adjustment of the member 30 the plate 35 may be provided with the fingerpiece 41 and a pointer 42 adapted "to cooperate with a fixed scale on the member 5 indicating the position of adjustment of the member 40 for cameras using plates or films of diflerent sizes. A resilient clip 43 beneath the plate 35 and secured thereto is adapted to snap into one of a plurality of depressions 4st in the plate 5, to resiliently maintain the plate inadjusted position.

Having described our invention what we claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a finder, the combination of a base member, a clamping member thereon, a supporting member slidably mounted on said base member, a pluralit of sighting devices supported thereon, a c amping member on said supporting member, and resilient means for moving said clamping members into engagement with a camera.

2. In a finder, the combination of a base member, a clamping member collapsible thereon, a supporting member 'slidably mounted-on said base member, sighting devices supported thereon, a clamping member collapsible thereon and adapted to cooperate with the first mentioned clamping member, and a spring for controlling the action of "said clamping members.

3. In a finder, the combination of a base member, a plurality of clamping members mounted thereon, a supporting member slidably mounted on said base member, sighting devices thereon, a clamping member on saidsupporting member adapted to cooperate with one or another of said first mentioned clamping members, and means for controlling the' action of said clamping members.

4. In a finder, the combination of a base member, sighting devices mounted thereon, and a slidable gauge adapted to locate the finder on a camera with its optical axis in the plane of the optical axis of the camera.

5. In a finder, the combination of a base member, asupporting member thereon, front and rear sighting devices mounted thereon, and a third sighting device intermediate said first mentioned sighting devices.

6. In a finder, the comblnation of a base member, a supporting member thereon, front and rear sighting devices mounted on said supporting member, and a third sightvices mounted thereon, and arranged to de-.

the plane of the supporting member, and a third sighting device mounted on said supporting member and adjustable in a plane substantially parallel with said optical axis.

8. In a finder, the combination of a supporting member, front and rear sighting devices mounted thereon, and arranged-to define an optical axis inclined with respect to the plane of the supporting member, a third sighting device adjustable on said supporting member in a plane substantially parallel with said optical axis, and a scale and cooperating pointer for indicating the position of adjustment of said sighting device.

9. In a finder, the combination of asupporting member, front and rear sighting devices mounted thereon, and arranged to define an optical axis inclined with respect to the'plane of the supporting member, a guideway on said member intermediate said sighting devices, and arranged in a plane su stantially parallel with said optical axis, and a third sighting device adjustable on said guideway.

10. In a finder, the combination of a sup.

porting member, front and rear sighting devices mounted thereon, and arranged to define an optical axis inclined with respect to the plane of the supporting member, a-

' mounted thereon and having a sightopening and a front sighting device also mounted thereon and having an opening adapted to define the substantial outlines of a view, and a small central opening adapted to locate the optical center of the view seen through the opening in the rear sighting device.

13. In a" finder, the combination of a sup porting member, a rear sighting device mounted thereon, having a sight opening, a front sighting device also mounted thereon and having an opening adapted to define the substantial outlines of a view seen through the openin in the rear sighting device, and a third sig ting device mounted on the supfine an optical 'axis'inclined with respect to the opening in the rear sighting device, a

third sightln device mounted on the supporting mem er and also having a sight opening, said third sighting device being adjustable to define a series of views different from that ,defined by the front sighting device and means for retaining said third 1 sighting device in adjustable position.

15. In a finder, the combination of a supporting member, a rear sighting device mounted thereon having a sight opening, a

front sighting device and having an opening adapted to define the substantial outlines of a view seen through the rear sighting device, and a small central opening adapted to define the optical axis of the View, a third sighting device mounted on the supporting member having a small opening in the line ofthe optical axis and an opening adapted to define a view different from that defined by the front sighting device, and means for adjusting the third sighting device along the line of the optical axis.

16. In a finder, the combination of a supporting member, front and rear sighting devices mounted thereon, and means adapted to clamp the finder to the frame of a camera, with the rear sighting device positioned in substantially the same plane as the film, or

ground glass, of the camera.

PAUL J. MARKS. WALTER O. MARKS. 

